Hefeweizen carbonation problem?

[danimalmanimal]

I completed my sixth batch of beer recently with a hefeweizen. Everything went as planned and I finished bottling a month ago tomorrow. The problem: it seems my bottles (using a mix of regular bottles and flip-tops) aren't carbonating the way I think they should. I am getting basically flat beer...there is a tiny bit of carb though, so I know its kind of working. My question: is this normal for hefs and is there anything I can do to speed up the carbonation, like put in a heated area or....? I would like to have this beer ready for x-mas.

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[boist]

Two questions:
1. Are you absolutely sure that you added your priming sugar? (Stupid question, I know, but are you sure?)
2. What temperature is the beer sitting in? - You're in Washington. If it's sitting in a garage or unheated part of the house (basement) the temp may be too cold and the yeast has gone dormant. Is the beer clear-looking, with sediment on the bottom? That's usually a good indication.

 

[danimalmanimal]

Absolutely sure I put in the sugar. Like I said, there is a little bit of carb, but nothing close to what it should be. As to the next question, it is in my computer room at an every day temp at >65° and yes, it is clear with sediment at the bottom of the bottle. It tastes fantastic, it just needs carbonation.

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[boist]

Ok. A hefe should not clear after a month in >65 temp, so chances are something is going on with your yeast. Assuming your beer attenuated well, your yeast is probably dormant rather than dead (plus, you would have tasted dead yeast). So here is my suggestion: Open a bottle, taste it with attention to odd flavors, and take a gravity reading. The gravity should be a little higher than the FG reading you took before you bottled (since you've added priming sugar). If there are no odd flavors, take some bottles, shake then vigorously to bring the yeast back into suspension, turn them upside down, and wait about two weeks (>65 temp!). This will hopefully get the yeast to ferment the rest of the priming sugar and make CO2. Failing that you may need to open the bottles and re-pitch, but that's a different question...

 

[danimalmanimal]

Ok, I will start the shaking tomorrow and turn them upside down. Hopefully that works. Thanks for the advice! Definitely not re-pitching though...lol.

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[boist]

Well you can always think about it this way: re-pitching may ruin your beer. But your beer is bad right now anyway, so at worse you will end up with what you started with. On the other hand, if it works you will end up with good beer, which is more than you have now.

Let us know if shaking worked for you. Good luck!